newspaper article

[sailortats]

Here is an excerpt from an article in the Scotsman newspaper entitled 10 things you didn't know about kilts. I found this paragraph particularly interesting as this is a subject that used to be discussed on this site frequently.
In a similar vein - to not cause any inattentive disrespect to Scotland’s historical garb - it is recommended that your kilt reach to the middle of your kneecap for the best fitment, regardless of tartan.Read more: http://www.scotsman.com/heritage/mor...#ixzz44L7q1D5v
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[Tarheel]

Thanks for the link Phil. I may order my next kilt to meet at mid-knee (for best fitment), then shorten the length at my leisure.

[OC Richard]

Most of that article is merely about various modern commemorative tartans etc which to me hardly rise to the level of "things you didn't know about the kilt".

The Eagle's Feathers thing isn't true- the pipers of the Cameron Highlanders/Queens Own Highlanders/The Highlanders have always worn them.

it is recommended that your kilt reach to the middle of the kneecap...

Recommended by whom I wonder.

Stuff like that is why I much prefer to look at imagery, to see what's actually worn, rather than read somebody's opinion as to how it should be worn.

Images of men in Highland Dress show a remarkable consistency from the 17th century to the present time, of wearing the kilt around the top of the knee, though in the 18th century one often sees a tad above that point. Note that, in general, the more crudely executed the image, the shorter the kilt.

One of the finest 18th century portraits, showing the kilt worn more or less at the length it's usually worn over the centuries



An 18th century cartoon showing an absurdly short kilt



The trend to wear kilts lower is quite recent, it seems to me.

[Marine2141]

I like my kilt length to fall somewhere above mid-way on the knee, but not above my knee.

[tripleblessed]

OC's post above once again makes me wish we could put more than one "aye". The article shows that print is not much
more reliable than the internet. And you can take that to the bank, because you read it on the internet. The error on feathers is in multiple, as feathers are also allowed for barons, clan chieftains, all armigers, and by tradition, also by a person
on clan business designated to speak for the chief on that matter. That last, while allowed, is probably the least common.
All, of course, in addition to OC's note on bands and military units.

And another aye for the note on length.

[Downunder Kilt]

Trippleblessed, when you say "all armigers", I trust you mean scottish armigers and not those who have registered their arms with registries other than the Lord Lyon or have assumed their arms. Cheers

[tripleblessed]

As we are speaking specifically of kilts, tartan, and Scotland, I think one would have to wander a good distance down
the garden path to come to any other conclusion than that of Scottish armigers. As one couldn't see that I had the Lyon Court
website open in another window while typing that, I'll avoid stooping to assume malicious intent. Though since that can of worms
has been opened, the Lyon Court's position is, as always, the Lyon Court's jurisdiction ends at the Scottish border, what
one chooses to do outside that jurisdiction, say in the US or even Australia, is not within it's purview, and not it's
concern. Other registries are not within that purview. Circumstances covering any response to holders of those arms
would be covered in threads concerning those registries.